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Teen charged with faking his kidnapping

Spent eight days camping in Forsyth instead

A 19-year-old Johns Creek college student faces several charges after he reportedly faked his own kidnapping last month rather than tell his parents he was failing an English course, authorities said.

According to Johns Creek police, Aftab Aslam was not abducted, but instead spent April 27-May 5 camping in a tent in an undeveloped area of Forsyth County.

Johns Creek police have charged Aslam with three felony counts each of false statements, tampering with evidence and terroristic threats.

Aslam, who surrendered to authorities Thursday, also faces one misdemeanor count of false report of a crime.

His disappearance was the focus of what authorities described as an “intensive investigation” involving Johns Creek police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Aslam was reported missing from his parents’ home about 10 a.m. April 27 after they received a text saying he had been kidnapped. It also warned them not to alert police or their son would be killed.

After being away for eight days, Aslam returned home unharmed May 5 when the weather turned cold and rainy.

According to police, he initially told investigators he had been drugged and kept prisoner. He later admitted having left on his own to avoid telling his parents he was failing an English course for the second time at Georgia Gwinnett College.

During the course of the investigation, authorities had found the phone that sent the text near Aslam’s home. It was later determined that Aslam had bought it a few days earlier from a local retailer.